Theology Proper (Doctrine of God): Attributes of God (Communicable vs. Incommunicable)
Theology proper—the study of God himself—centers on his attributes, the perfections of his being revealed in Scripture. Throughout Christian theology, these attributes are often divided into two categories: communicable and incommunicable. This distinction does not separate God into parts but helps us understand how the Creator relates to his creatures. Communicable attributes are those reflected in humanity as God’s image-bearers, such as love, justice, and knowledge. Incommunicable attributes, on the other hand, belong to God alone and mark the infinite distance between him and creation, such as eternity, immutability, and simplicity.
This framework protects both God’s transcendence and his nearness. It guards against reducing him to a creature while affirming that he has truly revealed himself to us in ways we can understand. Ultimately, every attribute of God leads us back to the gospel, where Christ reveals the fullness of God’s glory and shares his life with his people.
1. The Distinction Between Communicable and Incommunicable Attributes
The division between communicable and incommunicable attributes arises from Genesis 1:26–27, which declares that humanity is created in God’s image. Because of this, human beings reflect certain aspects of God’s nature. For example, we can show love, pursue justice, and display wisdom—though always in a finite and imperfect manner. These qualities are communicable attributes.
By contrast, God’s incommunicable attributes point to what makes him utterly unique. Eternity, infinity, and self-existence cannot be shared with creation. God alone is without beginning or end, infinite in being, and wholly independent. These incommunicable perfections remind us that though we are made in God’s image, he is always greater, transcending all limits.
Importantly, all attributes are incommunicable in the sense that God possesses them in infinite perfection. Human beings may love, but only God is love in his very essence (1 John 4:8). We may know, but only God is all-knowing (Psalm 139:4). Thus, the distinction helps us think clearly but must not divide God into parts.
2. Incommunicable Attributes: God’s Transcendence
Incommunicable attributes emphasize God’s majesty and holiness—his being as God alone. These attributes show that he cannot be reduced to the world he created or compared with creatures.
Eternity: God exists outside of time, with no beginning or end (Psalm 90:2). Unlike humanity, bound by years, God inhabits eternity and yet enters time in the incarnation of Christ.
Immutability: God does not change in his being, purposes, or promises (Malachi 3:6). While creation shifts and decays, his faithfulness remains constant.
Infinity and Omnipresence: God’s being has no limits. He is present everywhere, filling heaven and earth (Jeremiah 23:24).
Simplicity: God is not composed of parts. His attributes are not separate pieces but the unified perfection of his divine essence.
These truths humble us. They remind us that God is not merely the greatest of beings but wholly other. They also give comfort: if God is unchanging and eternal, then his promises in Christ are secure and cannot fail.
3. Communicable Attributes: God’s Immanence
Communicable attributes are those that God reflects in his creatures. These perfections reveal not only who God is but how he relates to us as Redeemer.
Knowledge and Wisdom: God’s perfect knowledge is reflected in human reason and learning. James 1:5 tells believers to seek wisdom from God, who gives generously.
Goodness and Love: God is good and shows steadfast love to his people (Psalm 136). Human love is a reflection, though it is corrupted by sin and in need of redemption.
Justice and Righteousness: God is the standard of moral order. Our pursuit of justice imitates his righteous rule.
Mercy and Grace: God shows mercy to the undeserving and grace to sinners. These attributes are central to the gospel, where Christ offers forgiveness and new life.
While communicable attributes are shared, they remain divine in their perfection. Human beings image God dimly, like reflections in a mirror. In Christ, however, believers are renewed by the Spirit, growing in holiness and love as they are conformed to the likeness of God’s Son (Romans 8:29).
4. The Unity of God’s Attributes in the Gospel
Though divided into categories for clarity, God’s attributes are never at odds with each other. His justice and mercy, his transcendence and immanence, all converge perfectly in the gospel.
At the cross, God’s justice against sin and his love for sinners meet. Romans 3:26 declares that God is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” His immutability secures the reliability of his promises, while his mercy offers forgiveness. His eternity assures us that salvation is part of his eternal plan, while his grace draws us into fellowship with him.
The communicable and incommunicable attributes together reveal that God is both infinitely beyond us and wonderfully near. In Jesus Christ, the eternal God entered time, took on flesh, and shared in our humanity so that we might share in his divine life.
5. The Attributes of God and the Hope of Glory
Understanding God’s attributes is not merely an academic exercise. It fuels worship, shapes discipleship, and anchors hope. The incommunicable attributes assure believers that God is sovereign, unchanging, and eternal. The communicable attributes invite us to grow in godliness, reflecting God’s love, mercy, and holiness in our lives.
This framework also points forward to the end of history. The God who is eternal and immutable has promised a new creation where his people will dwell with him forever (Revelation 21:3–4). On that day, believers will perfectly reflect his communicable attributes in glory while worshiping him for his incommunicable majesty.
Thus, theology proper is not abstract speculation. It is the study of the living God, who has revealed his character in Christ for our salvation. To know God’s attributes is to know the One who saves, sustains, and will bring his people into everlasting fellowship.
Conclusion
The distinction between communicable and incommunicable attributes helps the church articulate the doctrine of God with clarity and reverence. It reminds us that while we reflect God in limited ways as his image-bearers, he alone is eternal, infinite, and unchanging. His perfections converge in the gospel, where Christ embodies both the transcendence and immanence of God.
The study of God’s attributes is meant to lead believers to worship, trust, and obedience. It teaches us that theology proper is inseparable from the life of faith, because to know God is to be transformed by him.
Bible Verses on the Attributes of God
Psalm 90:2 – “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Malachi 3:6 – “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”
Jeremiah 23:24 – “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 40:28 – “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”
1 John 4:8 – “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Psalm 136:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Romans 3:26 – “It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Revelation 21:3–4 – “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people … He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Romans 8:29 – “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
